Carter Family Bowl & Pizzeria

For someone that has grown up in the Winter Garden area, Carter Family Bowl was the only place I could think of after I asked my son where he would like to have his birthday party, his response, a bowling party. Looking online they had a great party package, Two slices of pizza, soda, two hours of bowling, a glowing party favor, the birthday child receives a regulation size souvenir bowling pin everyone gets to sign! Tableclothes and balloons in their favorite color, shoe rental included.
With this great party idea in mind, and since we now live 2 hours away from Carter Family Bowl, I assumed that everything would be great and one of the best parties my kids have had. But my hopes of having a great party quickly diminished once I walked in the door 10 minutes early to find that no tables were decorated, no balloons. We got our lane numbers and sat at dirty tables. I asked where is a table with balloons and table cloth I was told that they don’t have any more tables, then 2 minutes later was given a table. I asked, why wasn’t the party table ready to go, the response I got was, we were not expecting you early, basically telling me they were already unprepared. I asked about the bowling pin, the response was, we ran out. Never received the glowing party favor either. Once the kids started bowling, I asked about the pizzas and was told I would be getting 3 pizzas, then a minute later was told its only 2. The staff they have is so unprofessional and seemed to be on some kind of drugs. Seemed to be bothered about anything I asked for. As a customer service professional I was very offended by the lack of response by any management as I asked to see a manager and they never came to the table. But that didn’t seem to bother any of the employees when we were leaving and they were asking to be paid for their less than meteocre service. I don’t understand how any company/business can promise something and then don’t come through. My complaint isn’t about spending almost $200 for this crappy service and leaving unsatisfied. My complaint is that if a business owner offers a service and doesn’t follow through, why as a customer should you pay for the whole thing? If I received great customer service and everything that was promised in the discussion I had with Sandy, I wouldn’t be leaving a nasty complaint, it would be the opposite. But I am urging anyone and everyone that is thinking of doing a party here at Carter Family Bowl, unless your getting it free, don’t bother wasting your money.

under new management. is much better now. staff was nice and had reasonable prices. i went there the other night and had a great time. saturday 9-12 unlimited bowling for $12. great place

When I went there, it had great service. But some people got horrible service, not good tables, dirty tables, and other complaints. The place is now out of business, it opened around 1984. If you want to buy it, just go to the address.

Very disappointing experience. The bowling shoes were dirty, old and tattered. The lane assigned to us had numerous mechanical problems and we had to wait for staff each time an issue occurred.

We had a great time for my sister's birthday! Fun family time! Very reasonable! Very friendly staff!

I went here to enjoy some family fun bowling for my birthday and it started off pretty okay. Staff isn't very inviting, but it's a bowling alley so whatever. We start to play our game in two alleys side by side. About halfway through the first one, we start to experience issues with the scoring. The arm used to push the pins down was dropping before the pins were ever hit, stopping the ball entirely and counting it as several turns. I asked the front desk about it to which I was told "oh yeah. Those lanes do that all the time. We'll see if someone can fix it." Someone is sent out to fix it, which only works for maybe 7 turns. The issues then start again. We asked several times for it to be addressed and for the turns to be restored. We were only helped half of the time. We finally gave up on the 3rd game that we had pre-paid for and simply asked for our money back. We were told "sorry, but no refunds."

I would like to know why you would let people use lanes that you know are broken, then refuse to help them or give them their money back. The experience felt like a scam and was incredibly upsetting. I do not recommend at all and will not be returning.

Me and my son had an amazing time thank you for the free coupons all the way into August 30th what a blessing

Rhe place is not like it was 4-5 years ago it looks like they letting it go the employees are not happy the shoes are beat up and the pizza nothing like it was.